Race Report: SoCal Contingent Conquers the Leadville Trail 100
By Travis Wilkerson
As Southern California racers we have so many options for races. There are stage races, road and circuit races, and an abundance of criteriums. Despite all the choices we have for racing, I have noticed a new trend with some of the “roadies” we see on a near weekly basis….racers are starting to do more than just race on the road.
I am sure most everyone who races has at least heard of the Leadville Trail 100. It is a classic out-and-back format starting in Leadville, CO at 10,200 feet. Racers traverse 5 major climbs, and countless smaller climbs to make up the 14,000 total vertical feet of climbing. Making the race more difficult is the elevation. The major climbs hit 10,800 feet, then 11,200 feet, and then at the turn-around racers struggle for air at 12,600 feet. All of this before turning around and retracing our steps back to Leadville. The race name is deceptive. The Leadville Trail 100 is not 100 miles, it’s actually 103.6 miles. Those extra 3.6 miles are not the most technically difficult, or the steepest, or highest, but they are surely the hardest. Depending on the racer those last 3.6 miles are either a time to savor what will be a successful race, a time to “dig deep” and try and make a specific time, or if you have had a bad day, a time to suffer for an extra 15-20 minutes until you can finally get off your bike. You see Leadville is a race, but not like anything Southern California crit racers are used to.
(l-rt) Travis Wilkerson (Surf City/Skull Candy), John Rondash (Team Helens),
Tommy Robles (ShoAir/Rock-n-Road), Sergio Hernandez (Jelly Belly Pro Cycling)
finished strong at the challenging Leadville Trail 100 and earned the coveted buckle.
This year Leadville had a record number 1806 competitors. There are a very select few who are racing for the over-all win or their age category win (including SoCal’s very own Sergio Hernandez), but beyond those select racers this is essentially a 103.6 mile time trial. You aren’t racing the clock in the same way as a usual time trial though. Every racer has their own goal, and depending on who that racer is, your time trial will last between 6 hours and 20 minutes (like winner Todd Wells), or 12 hours and 59 minutes for the person trying to get the last silver buckle. The complexities of this race are part of its allure, which is why so many people want to race it, including many Southern Californians. This year a record 145 Californians made the journey to Leadville to try their luck at the LT100, including four SoCal racers who are more used to dodging traffic than trees. Tommy Robles (ShoAir/Rock-n-Road) was there for his third race in his quest to get the coveted 1000 mile buckle (ten races in a row). John Rondash (Team Helens), Sergio Hernandez (Jelly Belly Pro Cycling), and myself, Travis Wilkerson (Surf City/Skull Candy) showed up with our knobby tires ready to test ourselves against the thin Colorado air for the first time.
Everyone has a goal at Leadville. Some are there to finish under 13 hours, some are hoping to beat their best friend who they are riding with. Some are racing hard to make it in under 9 hours to get the BIG buckle, and then there are the very select few that are racing for the win. Sergio was the best placed of our small group of roadies at 7:21.24 and rode a fantastic race in preparation for his assault on the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. Next to cross the line was Tommy in 8:27.14 his fastest time of his three years in a row of racing. I was next to crawl across the line in 8:40.30, and soon after Mr. Rondash came cruising in at 8:52.07.
The day, the week, the event, were all fantastic, and I know Tommy, John, Sergio, and I are all looking forward to next year’s Leadville Trail 100. The community of SoCal road racers is very competitive, and also very close knit. The camaraderie is unmistakable, and suits the LT100 and all that goes along with it very well. Leadville isn’t just about racing your bike. It’s about the people, the town, the history, and testing yourself with 1800 of your closest friends. The accomplishments of our small group of SoCal “roadies” is just one of thousands of stories to be told about this year’s race. The most important thing I think I will take away from this year’s race is that I like being known as a “bike racer”, and not just a roadie. Sure it’s where I spend most of my time, but it’s not what defines me as a bike racer, and I am sure Tommy, John, and Sergio would all tell you the same thing. We are bike racers, no matter what the terrain or bike, we love riding our bikes.
